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enHamstrung Clasie in doubt for Southampton league openerRonald Koeman will not play Jordy Clasie in Southampton's Premier League opener unless the latter is 100 per cent fit.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/hamstrung-clasie-doubt-southampton-league-opener
Southampton will not take any risks with Jordy Clasie ahead of the Premier League season, after the midfielder suffered a hamstring injury on Thursday.
Clasie was forced off in the 62nd minute of Southampton's 3-0 win over Vitesse in the UEFA Europa League's third round of qualifying - the 24-year-old's first competitive outing for the Premier League club.
With Southampton's new league campaign beginning on August 9 away to Newcastle United, Clasie may not be involved as manager Ronald Koeman made it clear he will not risk exacerbating the problem.
"Clasie had some hamstring problems - we will find out more tomorrow," Koeman said.
"It is possible he will miss the start of the season because hamstring injuries are always dangerous."
Clasie signed for Southampton from Feyenoord on July 15, with the Netherlands international ending his four-year association with the Rotterdam-based club after 131 Eredivisie appearances.news_articleFri, 31 Jul 2015 03:23:28 +0000Anonymous426166 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comThe FourFourTwo Season Preview 2015/16: SouthamptonThe Saints have sold key players once again, so can Ronald Koeman re-engineer a successful side once more?http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/fourfourtwo-season-preview-201516-southampton
This has been another summer of regeneration for Southampton. Out have gone key trio Morgan Schneiderlin (Manchester United), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool) and Toby Alderweireld (first back to parent club Atletico Madrid, then to Tottenham). In have come Dutch playmaker Jordy Clasie (Feyenoord), Portuguese full-back Cedric Soares (Sporting) and Spanish forward Juanmi (Malaga). You won’t need reminding that selling big names and delving into the transfer market to replace them didn’t do Southampton too much harm last season, but Ronald Koeman will be under a little more pressure now he has to repeat the trick. The added strain of European football could also test a relatively thin squad, but if any club are in a position to thicken things out with a handful of youngsters, it’s the Saints.
Why they’ll do well
Last season proved the value of a good start. Convincing early wins against West Ham and Newcastle helped allay fears the club was in ‘crisis’ after selling Lambert, Lallana Co. Suddenly, the fans were buzzing and the players had the confidence to continue their impressive form way into the new year. Lightning could strike twice because this season’s early fixtures don’t look too daunting. Home matches against Everton and Norwich, and away trips to Newcastle, Watford and West Brom, should give them a decent chance of building some early momentum. Do that, and they should have a decent chance of another top-half finish, at least.
Why they’ll do badly
Goalkeeper Fraser Forster was another of last season’s star turns, but he’ll be missing for at least the first few months of the season with a knee injury picked up in March’s home win over Burnley. Koeman has recruited countryman Maarten Stekelenburg as his replacement, but the former Ajax and Roma keeper struggled during his previous spell in the Premier League with Fulham. The Dutchman failed to hold down a regular first-team place at Craven Cottage, and rarely inspired much confidence when selected. If he flops again (and Forster takes longer to regain full fitness), last season’s impressive defensive record is unlikely to be matched.
The big questions...
1) Can Jordy fill Morgan’s boots?
Schneiderlin’s importance to Southampton’s success over the last few seasons was huge, and replacing the Frenchman will be the responsibility of Clasie, who previously played under Koeman at Feyenoord. Although more than proficient when it comes to passing, he doesn’t make as many tackles or interceptions as the Manchester United-bound midfielder.
2) Will Koeman bring through more kids?
Last season was an undoubted success for Southampton, but the one thing Koeman failed to do was make one of the club’s academy graduates a first-team regular. Midfielder Harrison Reed came closest, starting five Premier League matches, but there may be pressure from high up to show a little more faith in the youth.
3) Can J-Rod get back to his best?
England forward Jay Rodriguez is finally about to make his long-awaited return from injury, having been sidelined since April 2014 with anterior cruciate ligament woe that saw him miss out on a place in England’s World Cup squad, not to mention all of 2014/15. The former Burnley man has already started scoring again, but finding his feet back in the Premier League will be an altogether different proposition.
Key player: Jordy Clasie
The former Feyenoord captain believes he is ready to step up to the Premier League. “For me, I think this was the right time,” he said on his arrival in Hampshire. “I’ve played four years in the first team at Feyenoord and was at the club for 15 years. It was not easy for me to leave, but I felt this was the right moment.” There’s no doubt he has the raw talent to succeed, and him doing so will be crucial to the Saints’ hopes of matching last season’s success.
What we’ll be saying come May
“Morgan who? I didn’t actually notice any difference…” OK, maybe not, but the signs are that Southampton should be well placed to recover once again from cashing in on their most prized assets. Matching last season’s seventh-place finish may be a stretch, but this season will be all about their European adventure.
Predictions
To see where FourFourTwo think Southampton will finish – along with a bespoke two-page preview – getour special new season issue, out Saturday 1 August.
featureThu, 30 Jul 2015 12:04:00 +0000Gregor MacGregor425840 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSouthampton v Vitesse: Fonte excited for dream sojourn into EuropeAs Southampton prepare for their first European tie in 12 years, captain Jose Fonte cannot wait to lead the side out against Vitesse.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/southampton-v-vitesse-fonte-excited-dream-sojourn-europe
Southampton captain Jose Fonte is thrilled at the prospect of beginning the club's UEFA Europa League adventure in the third qualifying round at home to Vitesse on Thursday.
Fonte and his team-mates secured their place in this year's competition thanks to a seventh-placed Premier League finish in 2014-15.
Under Ronald Koeman - who managed Vitesse in the 2000-01 campaign - Southampton gained plaudits for their style of football, claiming a spot in Europe for the first time in 12 years.
In 2003-04, Gordon Strachan's side were ousted in the first round of what was then the UEFA Cup by Steaua Bucharest, but Fonte believes last week's 3-0 friendly win over Feyenoord is a positive sign.
"It will be like a dream, so I'm looking forward to it, obviously," he told the Southern Daily Echo.
"Feyenoord is a bigger club, and we still showed that we were levels above them, so we're going to approach this game like any other - full detail and attention, and we will do our best to win.
"It's a long, long competition. First, we need to make sure we're in the group stages and then we go step by step, but, for now, we need to focus on Vitesse, because that's the next challenge."
One Southampton player who does have experience of this competition is Jordy Clasie, a close-season arrival from Feyenoord.
"It's important for us, for every player, to play in the Europa League," he said. "I played last season with Feyenoord and it's amazing to play in.
"I think the people in Southampton, they want to play in the Europa League, we want to play in the Europa League and it's important we win against Vitesse."
Southampton come into Thursday's first leg at St Mary's Stadium in fine form, having scored 16 goals without reply in friendlies against Groningen, Quick '20 and Feyenoord.
Vitesse, meanwhile, have enjoyed pre-season victories over Dundee United, Rizespor and Asteras Tripolis, and were the highest-ranked unseeded team in the draw for this penultimate round before the group stages.
Peter Bosz's men finished fifth at the end of the regular 2014-15 Eredivisie campaign, earning their place in the Europa League thanks to wins over PEC Zwolle and then Heerenveen in their domestic play-offs.news_articleTue, 28 Jul 2015 14:28:17 +0000Anonymous424831 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSaints trio enjoy ideal Feyenoord returnAn enjoyable return to Feyenoord for Ronald Koeman, Jordy Clasie and Graziano Pelle saw the latter score in a 3-0 win.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/saints-trio-enjoy-ideal-feyenoord-return
Jordy Clasie and Graziano Pelle were afforded warm receptions on their returns to Feyenoord as Southampton recorded a 3-0 friendly victory at De Kuip.
Clasie and Pelle each left Feyenoord to join their former boss Ronald Koeman at St Mary's Stadium, the former doing so earlier this month.
And both players were treated to standing ovations and pre-match presentations on Thursday, prior to Pelle opening the scoring in an ultimately routine win for the Premier League side.
Pelle tapped into an empty net on 41 minutes after home goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer had raced from his goal to cut out a ball over the top, only to be beaten by Dusan Tadic.
Southampton's lead was doubled after 61 minutes when Maya Yoshida was left unmarked to nod home Steven Davis' floated free-kick, the defender heading back across goal from eight yards.
Clasie and Pelle were duly withdrawn to further acclaim before two substitutes combined for the game's third goal.
Shane Long outmuscled his marker and played the ball through for Juanmi, who drove home a low finish from just inside the box.
Southampton are in Europa League action next week against another of Koeman's former clubs, Vitesse.news_articleThu, 23 Jul 2015 20:05:06 +0000Anonymous422584 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comClasie perfect replacement for SchneiderlinRonald Koeman believes Jordy Clasie will be prove to be a "perfect replacement" for Morgan Schneiderlin at Southampton.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/clasie-perfect-replacement-schneiderlin
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman is confident new signing Jordy Clasie will fill the void left by Morgan Schneiderlin.
Schneiderlin brought an end to months of speculation by moving to Manchester United on Monday.
Koeman was quick to react, bringing in Clasie - with whom he previously worked at Feyenoord - on a five-year deal.
The Netherlands international made his debut in Saturday's 3-0 friendly win over Groningen and Koeman believes Clasie is a good fit to replace Schneiderlin.
"He's a perfect replacement for Morgan in that position," he told Sky Sports.
"I know that because I worked three seasons with Jordy.
"Of course, he's still not Schneiderlin but he's still young. He has to develop and adapt to the Premier League and its intensity but he's a great signing."news_articleSun, 19 Jul 2015 12:16:07 +0000Anonymous420457 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comClasie makes debut as Southampton sweep Groningen asideSouthampton claimed their first win of pre-season, defeating Ronald Koeman's former side Groningen 3-0 on their Netherlands tour.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/clasie-makes-debut-southampton-sweep-groningen-aside
Ronald Koeman returned to former club Groningen on Saturday and saw his Southampton side produce confident performance in a straightforward 3-0 win, handing Jordy Clasie his debut in the process.
Koeman, who made his professional debut as a player at Groningen in 1980, had seen Southampton lose each of their three previous pre-season friendlies, though victory never looked in doubt this time around, with Dusan Tadic starring on his return to Euroborg.
Southampton, who are deep into their pre-season preparation, named a starting XI combining a mixture of youth and experience and appeared to be in charge right from the start.
Victor Wanyama worried Groningen when he headed Steven Davis’ 20th-minute corner against the crossbar and the hosts failed to heed that warning, as Jose Fonte nodded in from their next set-piece just four minutes later.
Koeman introduced Clasie for his debut at the break, but it was another of the newcomers – Cedric Soares – who helped provide Southampton's second, linking well with Tadic before teeing up Sadio Mane for an easy finish in the 52nd minute.
And Tadic was at the centre of things again 20 minutes later, as the former Groningen star worked an opening for Graziano Pelle, who made no mistake in front of goal.
Up next for Saints is a trip to Hoofdklasse side Quick’20 on Tuesday.news_articleSat, 18 Jul 2015 15:09:01 +0000Anonymous420081 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comManagers men: footballs special relationships, by those who know bestWith Jordy Clasie following Ronald Koeman, Nick Moorechats to the players whove rarely been far from one boss...Nick Moorehttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/managers-men-footballs-special-relationships-those-who-know-best
As love affairs go, it had a shaky start. “The first thing Brian Clough ever said to me was to stand up straight, put my shoulders back and get my hair cut, because I looked like a girl,” recalls John McGovern about his fateful first meeting with Old Big ‘Ed as a teenage trialist for Hartlepool United in 1965. “It was a shock, because I thought he was just going to shake my hand and say ‘good luck, son’.
I had a rounded left shoulder which I couldn’t put back straight due to a missing muscle, and I fancied myself as the next Mick Jagger, so I didn’t want a haircut. He intimidated me. But I eventually realised that this was Brian’s unique way of testing your character.”
McGovern must have passed with flying colours: the tough-tackling Scottish midfielder romped into the first team under Clough, who later signed him for Derby County, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest – where he captained the side that won the European Cup twice. As a result, he also gained a sometimes unwelcome reputation as a ‘manager’s man’.
Being the apple of a gaffer’s eye is clearly a convenient way to get picked, but it comes with a hefty side helping of baggage. Team-mates, we will discover, can become envious, conspiratorial and try to sabotage a supposed ‘favourite’.
Should their employer move elsewhere, the golden child can suddenly find themselves exposed – and it can be plain embarrassing, too. “I bring him breakfast in bed,” joked James Morrison last year, after former Scotland supremo Craig Levein had ladled yet another gloop of effusive praise upon the West Brom star.
“Everyone asks me if I’m the manager’s pet, they keep bringing it up. Maybe he sees talent, or maybe he realises that I need confidence to get the best out of me. It’s nice. Hopefully he’ll get a top-four job and take me with him.”
Love at third sight
But what makes a blue-eyed boy? Are they do-gooders, bringing teacher an apple each morning? Do they possess a dossier of compromising photographs to use as blackmail? Or are they simply popular with the main man because they’re decent at kicking a round object? And can the relationship sometimes blur the barrier of professionalism so that boss and employee become that rarest of things: friends?
Like the unsettling theory that owners end up resembling their dogs, coaches clearly prefer individuals cast in their own image. Straight-talking Yorkshireman Neil Warnock might as well have been eyeballing a mirror when he praised Paddy Kenny, the goalkeeper he’d bought for the fourth time, back in July, “I think he’s great. He’s a northern lad, he knows what a pull Leeds is. He’s the most important signing I’ll make here.” Kenny replied in a similar no-nonsense manner. “He knows what he gets from me. I know what I get from him.”
If the savvy, cool and slightly sly Special One Jose Mourinho ever had a special one of his own, it was the savvy, cool and slightly sly Ricardo Carvalho. The Portuguese defender put pen to paper for his compatriot at Porto, Chelsea and Real Madrid, and on occasion their man-love looked like veering out of control.
“He’s one of the best central defenders in the world,” purred Jose. “If there was a possibility to sign, I would go there right now - swimming or running,” responded Ricardo before being reunited with his leader at the Bernabeu. Last summer it was Didier Drogba, re-signed at the ripe old age of 36.
Harry Redknapp’s hands-on management requires personnel that thrive on such methods, which is why he’s brought in Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch thrice apiece. “He’ll talk to me and be honest whether I’ve had an awful game or a bad game,” says Crouch, a confidence player who admits that Fabio Capello’s aloof attitude affected him negatively. “Harry’s way suits me.”
Capello’s own supremacy at Milan, Real Madrid and Roma was always aided by Christian Panucci, a hard-working, technically excellent defender who dovetailed precisely with his intelligent brand of calcio, while Marcello Lippi built from the back and deployed solid stopper Angelo Peruzzi in his net whenever possible, buying him on three occasions and praising him as “technically and morally” superb.
West Ham's former manager Sam Allardyce’s love affair with Kevin Nolan is largely thanks to the Scouser’s leadership qualities – something Big Sam possessed in spades as a combative centre-half back in his own boot-wearing days. “Kevin was the most important signing I ever made,” says Allardyce. “It isn’t just about what he does on the field, it’s what he does as a captain. He unites dressing rooms by his experience. And as a goalscoring midfield player, you have to look at his record. No one should underestimate Nolan.”
Indeed, when the midfielder picked up a second red card in four matches last season, the disappointment from Allardyce was palpable.“I'm going to have to find out what's wrong with him, becuase there is certainly something wrong with his mentality at the minute,” sobbed Big Sam.“You can expect it from somebody who's starting out - but not Kevin.”
Junior Senior
For FourFourTwo’s secret columnist The Player, it’s entirely logical for a manager to have preferences – after all, it eliminates gambling on someone you might not be able to work with. “I’ve followed a manager twice,” he says. “It’s what you know, so that helps, and it’s what he knows, so that helps him. Doesn’t the same thing happen in other businesses? Managers don’t know a personality or how they’ll gel before they work together.
"They can eliminate what can be a major problem by buying someone they trust. One former manager called me, and that led to a move. On another occasion, I was sat at home, not enjoying life at a Premier League club. So I called a former manager and told him to consider me. ‘That’s interesting,’ he said. A week later I moved clubs.”
Junior Lewis is surely the ultimate manager’s man, having been purchased six times as a player (for Dover Athletic, Gillingham, Leicester City, Brighton, Hull City and Stevenage Borough) and brought into clubs twice as a coach (Wycombe Wanderers, Bradford City) by Peter Taylor. “I think I must hold the world record,” he tells FourFourTwo. Lewis believes that Taylor saw similarities from his younger days. “We were both two-footed, but mainly left-footed, and we relied on a similar trick - feinting to cross but chopping back onto your right foot. I watched a video of him play once and I thought: ‘I do that’.
“He trusted me to keep things ticking over. I fitted his philosophy, and he brought the best out in me. But I didn’t assume that when he moved, I’d automatically follow. When he took over Leicester in the Premier League I did really hope I’d join, but I didn’t hear from him for ages.”
Now a coach himself at Canvey Island, Lewis has another theory as to how certain types can become invaluable to their boss. “Operating in a difficult position is one way to become a favourite, and I was always a two-footed holding midfielder. There aren’t a lot of us around, compared to more attacking players, probably because you don’t get as much glory.
"So having me in that role meant Peter always knew he had one position sorted.” Lewis, never encountered hostility from team-mates thanks to his status. “I was playing a position which nobody else really did, so the competition wasn’t there. There was a bit of joking, but not much beyond that.”
Black-eyed boy
This puts him in sharp contrast with John McGovern. In his excellent biography From Bo’Ness To The Bernabeu, My Story, the Scot recalls with distaste the abysmal treatment he received from Leeds United’s fans and players after Clough brought him in during his ill-fated 44-day reign.
“I was booed before I even came on for my debut. I was seen as his man, and I was wearing Billy Bremner’s shirt. Clough knew it wasn’t going to go well. Then Johnny Giles hit 60-40 balls in favour of my marker, which ended up with me being hurt by a crunching tackle. Johnny held his hands up in apology as I looked at him in disbelief – this was a player capable of pinpoint passes. Soon after, it happened again and I was cleaned out by an opponent’s tackle. Johnny lost an avid admirer that day.”
After Clough was sacked, McGovern found himself in a deeply awkward dressing room. “Angus McLean, the new boss, said ‘you’re Clough’s blue-eyed boy but I’m going to change that’. He treated me like dirt. I used to be sick on the pitch before games.”
The Player has also experienced this discomfort. “Being considered the manager’s pet can be a problem if he isn’t popular,” he says. “Other lads don’t trust you and think that you’ll blab to the manager.” There can be truth in this suspicion, too, he admits. “At one club where the manager wasn’t popular, I told the assistant manager what was going on in the dressing room, knowing full well it’d get back to him.
"I did that for the good of the club, because there were one or two devious characters who were trying to undermine an honest, hard-working coach. I realised that they knew what had happened two days later when some of the other players refused to sit next to me in the canteen. I’m glad I did what I did though, and I did it again. The manager eventually got rid of the bad eggs and things began to improve.”
McGovern didn’t have such power, and considered retiring from the sport – before Clough, now at the Derby, rescued him. But he wasn’t exactly treated like royalty by his supposed benefactor either. “When it is known that you’re a strong character, a manager can get harsh with you,” McGovern tells FourFourTwo.
“I worked for him for 14 years and probably got more rollockings than anyone. At Derby, Brian Clough used to say he was going to sign Keith Weller to replace me. At Forest he said he’d get Asa Harford - and he did. But it raised my game, the threat to my position.”
Clough was downright sadistic at times. “He never forgave me for us losing a cup final, and he brought it up every single time we played in the FA Cup after that. He even ran down the tunnel once at York City after me, because he’d forgotten to mention it.”
So why did it last? Clough valued obedience, hard work and character above all – and McGovern did what he was told. “I realised that if I put into practice what Brian was telling me, it would benefit both me and the team,” he says. “I developed a blind faith into carrying out his instructions on a football field, because I knew it’d work.
He had that annoying habit of being right. I was always striving to be better, so remembered what would benefit me, and Brian’s teaching was full of those things. We set exceptionally high standards, and if I didn’t meet them he’d admonish me.”
“I could pass with both feet. He’d ask me after a game: ‘why do I play you?’ I’d say: ‘to pass the ball.’ He’d say: ‘so pass the ball, or I’ll get somebody else who can, because you have that ability.’ He made me confident, and you play well when you’re confident.”
Football friends
Ultimately, however, a manager’s favourite will only remain such for as long as he is useful to the cause. “Ricardo is not part of our plans for the season,” Jose Mourinho said at a press conference about his former superman, before adding – rather coldly – that: “it is up to him whether he wants to continue playing football or stay at Madrid, meet his contractual obligations and practically end his sporting career.”
But a real closeness can develop between the two parties. “I suppose we were friends, although it didn’t go beyond football,” says Junior Lewis of Peter Taylor.
“I could always ring him up and discuss things, get advice. After the fourth time he signed me, we got on well. He could still kick me up the arse, but he knew it made me stronger. Peter didn’t really fall out with players, and that’s partly why he succeeded and won so many promotions.”
Kevin Nolan concurred when talking of his former gaffer. “I can’t get away from the fact that I’m close with the boss. I’ve grown up with him. I want to do it for him at West Ham. He deserves it.”
For others, the idea of actually being mates with the boss is laughable. “I never, ever got close to Clough, and I didn’t want to - the relationship wouldn’t have worked,” says John McGovern. “I was in management for seven years and you can’t have favourites. You pick the players that will do you the job, or you won’t last long.
Clough loved me if a tackle I put in saved us a point, but he only liked me if I did in on a Saturday. I was never Cloughie’s blue-eyed boy. We only ever had a couple of cordial conversations in our entire lives – years after I’d retired.
I was an estate agent in Tenerife and he brought the Forest team out for a break. He came to my house to have a coffee and watch a John Wayne film. We enjoyed the pleasantries of the day. It was genial, and not about football.”
Footballers' sons - the ultimate managers' men
As Julian Lennon and Kelly Osborne can confirm, it’s not always a bed of roses being the offspring of a celebrity – and being the child of a world-beating footballer can be particularly traumatic, especially if your old man keeps signing you. Consider Nigel Clough, signed by a father who referred to him as “the number nine”; Anthony Pulis – brought to clubs twice by dad Tony during a deeply unpromising career; and Fernando Sanz – who joined Real Madrid in 1996 when his dad, Lorenzo, was club president.
“I can’t go anywhere without people saying ‘You’ll never be as good as your dad’,” laments Paul Dalglish – who, it should be noted, will never be as good as his dad – of his career.
He probably wasn’t helped by the fact that despite a mediocre record as a youngster, said father gave him a schoolboy contract at Blackburn, before joining Celtic (Kenny’s old club), Liverpool (where pop certainly had some pals) and Newcastle (guess who was boss). He was frozen out by Ruud Gullit at St James’ Park following Kenny’s sacking, with the Dutchman telling Paul he was never going to play again because “he didn’t like my dad”.
Dalglish Junior has now found peace working in the USA, where he coaches Austin Aztex. “The American attitude to sport is positive,” he claims. It probably also helps that they’ve never heard about his connections.
Alex Bruce also suffered after signing for his father, Steve, at Birmingham City, with unavoidable accusations of nepotism being levelled – and the pair have since been reunited at Hull City. “I’ve had it all my life,” says Alex.
“When I joined Norwich they asked how I’d cope with being the son of a Norwich legend. For Leeds it was ‘how’s he going to cope with being a former Manchester United player’s son?’ But it’s water off a duck’s back.”
Steve added: “I just hope supporters can judge him like any other player. Lads like him have more advantages than disadvantages. Even at school people would say he’s only playing because of his dad.”
This feature originally appeared in the January 2013 issue of FourFourTwo. Subscribe!
featureThu, 16 Jul 2015 14:28:40 +0000Joe Brewin221374 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comBREAKING NEWS: Clasie makes Southampton switchJordy Clasie will play Premier League football next season after swapping Feyenoord for Southampton.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/breaking-news-clasie-makes-southampton-switch
Netherlands international Jordy Clasie has completed a move to Southampton.
The midfielder has switched from Feyenood, signing a five-year deal at St Mary's Stadium.
Executive director of football Les Reed told the club's official website: "Jordy is one of the most highly sought-after midfielders in Europe.
"His qualities are plain to see for anybody who has watched his development over the past few years as closely as we have and we are delighted that he will continue his growth at Southampton."news_articleWed, 15 Jul 2015 21:27:57 +0000Anonymous418709 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comFeyenoord withdraw Clasie from friendly amid serious interestJordy Clasie is seemingly heading for the exit at Feyenoord, with the Eredivisie club pulling him out of a friendly with Fortuna Dusseldorf.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/feyenoord-withdraw-clasie-friendly-amid-serious-interest
Feyenoord captain Jordy Clasie has been withdrawn from Sunday's friendly against Fortuna Dusseldorf due to the "serious interest" being shown in him.
The midfielder has been linked with a move to Premier League side Southampton throughout the close-season, with reports suggesting the Netherlands international will be a replacement for Morgan Schneiderlin should the latter join Manchester United.
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman confirmed in May that Clasie is a player on his radar if Schneiderlin departs, and talk of a switch to the St Mary's Stadium is sure to intensify after the Eredivisie side pulled him out their squad to play Fortuna.
"Jordy Clasie does not play this afternoon against Fortuna Dusseldorf. The reason is that there has been concrete serious interest shown for the captain," Feyenoord posted on Twitter.
"The club and player have therefore after consultation decided not to let him play."
If Clasie were to move to the south coast it would mean a reunion with Koeman, who was previously head coach at De Kuip.news_articleSun, 12 Jul 2015 11:33:00 +0000Anonymous416945 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comClasie out of Latvia meetingJordy Clasie will be unavailable for Netherlands' Euro 2016 qualifier against Latvia on Friday due to gastroenteritis.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/clasie-out-latvia-meeting
Netherlands will be without the services of midfielder Jordy Clasie for their upcoming Euro 2016 qualifier against Latvia.
The Feyenoord man will miss Friday's clash in Riga with gastroenteritis, the KNVB has confirmed.
Coach Guus Hiddink now has 21 players to choose from, following Ron Vlaar's injury picked up in training on Tuesday.
Netherlands are third in qualifying Group A, six points behind leaders Czech Republic, while Latvia are fifth, without a win from their five matches.news_articleThu, 11 Jun 2015 12:11:05 +0000Anonymous402151 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comClasie a target if Schneiderlin leaves - KoemanThe future of Morgan Schneiderlin is set to determine whether Southampton target Jordy Clasie, according to Ronald Koeman.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/clasie-target-if-schneiderlin-leaves-koeman
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman says they have not made contact over a move for Jordy Clasie, but that may change if Morgan Schneiderlin leaves.
The south-coast club have been reported to be plotting a move to lure Clasie away from Feyenoord - who Koeman left to take over at St Mary's last June.
Koeman signed Graziano Pelle from the Eredivisie side shortly after his arrival at Southampton, and Netherlands international Clasie - Feyenoord's captain - recently admitted that he could also leave De Kuip.
Meanwhile, Schneiderlin - who was repeatedly linked with Tottenham prior to the start of the season - is thought to be the subject of renewed interest from the White Hart Lane club and their local rivals Arsenal.
Koeman told Fox Sports: "At the moment there has not been any contact [for Clasie]. There is interest for a number of our players, including Schneiderlin.
"If he [Schneiderlin] leaves, Jordy Clasie is on our list."news_articleSun, 31 May 2015 12:37:59 +0000Anonymous396801 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comClasie pulls out of Netherlands squadJordy Clasie will miss Netherlands friendly with Spain in Amsterdam on Tuesday after withdrawing from the squad with a knee injury.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/clasie-pulls-out-netherlands-squad
The midfielder was an unused substitute in Saturday's 1-1 Euro 2016 qualifying draw with Turkey.
But an announcement on the Dutch football association's website on Monday confirmed he had pulled out of the squad and will return to his club Feyenoord.
news_articleMon, 30 Mar 2015 10:42:58 +0000Anonymous368444 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comFive Eredivisie midfield starlets destined for greatness – and who theyd suitPriya Rameshevaluates the latest batch of Dutch delights primed and ready for transfer window delivery...Priya Rameshhttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/five-eredivisie-midfield-starlets-destined-greatness-and-who-theyd-suit
The Eredivisie is a well-known talent factory in Europe. While its clubs possess some great scouts scanning for talent on five continents, they also have a brilliant record of producing their own top players, born and bred in the Netherlands. So much so that the Dutch World Cup squad that finished third in 2014 had 10 players plying their trade in their home country at the time –seven of them playing major roles in Brazil, and a separate seven featuring for the Netherlands in the Under-21 European Championship just a year before.
Holland's top flight has a habit of producing some fine midfielders in particular. Here's a quintet who've shone so far...
Davy Klaassen
Klaassen broke the internet last season with his Bergkamp-esque finish from Niklas Moisander’s De Boer-esque long pass, but there is much more to this exciting midfielder. His development as a player over the last two seasons has been something like Georginio Wijnaldum’s on fast forward.
Standing tall as Ajax searched for a Christian Eriksen replacement, Klaassen’s ascent has been imperious and extraordinary. Having played furthest forward in midfield last season, the 21-year-old built up an excellent understanding with Lasse Schone and Ricardo van Rhijn, showing wonderful finishing ability as well as endurance to chase opponents.
This season he’s embraced bigger responsibility as a senior member of the squad and vice-captain, and grown in great measures. The Hilversum-born midfielder has exhibited a greater ability to set up his team-mates for chances and assumes a slightly deeper position in midfield.
Klaassen, whose career was nearly ended prematurelybecause of a serious hamstring issue, brings an air of calmness when on the ball, and understandably Ajax seem to be best coordinated when he dictates the game.
Schone and Lucas Andersen have fancy skills up their sleeve but they're only able to show them off because of the solid foundation in midfield that Klaassen provides, with his passing, movement and ability to immediately position himself correctly for impending attacks when Ajax lose possession.
Compared to Toni Kroos and Xavi by Johan Cruyff, a controlling midfield role may be something Klaassen and his coach consider in the future, but at the moment he has too much attacking potential to be sacrificed.
Potential suitors:Arsenal, Juventus, Chelsea.
Marko Vejinovic
The lanky, attacking midfielder named Mark Matic played for AZ under Louis van Gaal –and even had the audacity to demand more playing time from the Manchester United chief.
Vejinovic was impressive in flashes, but in truth didn't seem such a fantastic player. Fast forward a few years and the same man now features in Vitesse colours as Marko Vejinovic, having adopted his father’s surname, and is arguably the best player of the Eredivisie season so far.
Like his ex-namesake Nemanja Matic (on loan at Vitesse for a season in 2010/11), Vejinovic was pushed back into a defensive midfield role from an attacking one after team-mate Theo Janssen tore knee ligaments. Since then the midfielder has gone from strength to strength, becoming a mainstay in the Vitesse first XI.
A rather strong man of good physique, Vejinovic has enjoyed a more all-round role this season playing alongside another defensive midfielder in Kelvin Leerdam.
Afforded freedom, the Dutchman of Balkan origins is Vitesse’s top scorer and leading assist maker this season. Vejinovic is truly at the heart of everything Vitesse do, and has proved equally adept at recovering the ball and giving opponents a hard time.
He’s won 70% of his aerial duels this season, while 49% of his tackles have been successful. He’s no mediocre player with the ball at his feet either, winning 66% of his take-ons and topping the league for key passes.
Whenever Vejinovic is on the ball, Vitesse look more upbeat and likely to fashion chances. He has not been scouted extensively by major clubs, though that will change soon if he continues to impress.
Potential suitors:Hertha BSC, Villarreal, Southampton (Morgan Schneiderlin replacement), West Ham.
Jordy Clasie
Heavily linked to Manchester United and Fiorentina, and having almost joined Porto, Clasie ultimately opted against leaving Feyenoord in the summer. It's proved a fine decision for both player and club, who had already lost regular starters in Graziano Pelle, Bruno Martins Indi, Stefan de Vrij and Daryl Janmaat.
The 23-year-old, who had already been given the club captaincy by Ronald Koeman towards the end of the now-Southampton boss's tenure, has been a shining light for Feyenoord this season under Fred Rutten.
While he functioned as a single pivot last season with Tonny Vilhena typically playing slightly ahead of him, Clasie has been part of a defensive midfield pairing this season with the returning Karim El Ahmadi.
He has found this an opportunity to refine his attacking skills, functioning as a box-to-box all-round midfielder. The Haarlem-born man's appearance can be deceptive. Stocky and under 5ft 7in tall, Clasie has deceived many onlookers while coming through the ranks. They said he was too small to be a defensive midfielder, and when his name pops up in rumour mills again, no doubt many fans will be wary of this.
Rest assured, while he may not win too many aerial duels, Clasie is stronger than his diminutive frame suggests, and possesses ample strength to go shoulder-to-shoulder (or shoulder-to-midriff in some cases) with bigger players. He has great stamina, and while he looks like Scrappy Doo in certain battles, he does have a resilient way of pressurising opponents and recovering possession.
Clasie has previously been referred to as the ‘Dutch Xavi’. Too far fetched? Yes. But the Feyenoord captain possesses a great understanding of the game and has the vision and technical skill to execute his ideas.
Potential suitors: Southampton (a chance to link up with Pelle and Koeman again, and could be a possible replacement should Schneiderlin leave), Arsenal.Georginio Wijnaldum
Wijnaldum only turned 24 a few months back, but it already feels like he’s been around in the Eredivisie forever. Having made his debut for Feyenoord at just 16, eight years ago, Wijnaldum has racked up around 300 appearances for club and various levels of the national team. After bursting onto the scene as a dreadlocked attacking midfielder and likened to Ruud Gullit by Kenneth Butter, his first coach, Wijnaldum was one of the saving graces in a tumultuous period for Feyenoord. But as the club failed to pick themselves up Wijnaldum, like Gullit, felt it right to move, joining PSV in 2011 hoping to improve and win titles.
In his time at PSV, ‘Gini' has matured gradually and grown as a player both on and off the pitch. His ability to dictate a match and dribble just as well as he could pass turned heads at Feyenoord.
But the major difference between Wijnaldum and Gullit was the former’s relatively light frame. The Rotterdam-born midfielder could be bullied out of games and wane in influence when he had a marker tasked with roughing him up in possession. Now at PSV, the dreadlocks are gone but the physique has improved, with Gini bulking up and, more importantly, knowing how to use it in match situations.
His ability to pick passes and link up with attackers like Memphis Depay and Luciano Narsingh has improved, and he is now PSV's driving force in their title challenge this season.
He excelled in the No.10 role in his first two seasons in Eindhoven, with the safety net of Kevin Strootman and Mark van Bommel behind him. But as the former moved on and the latter retired, Wijnaldum has had to tweak his game to be more defensively aware in the unbalanced Wijnaldum-Guardado-Maher midfield triumvate.
Potential suitors: PSG (Wijnaldum turned them down in the summer to stay at PSV), Liverpool, Inter Milan.
Daley Sinkgraven
‘Daley uit, Daley komt’ read a few headlines in the summer as papers talked of a possible move to Ajax, who had just lost Daley Blind. That didn't quite materialise in the summer, but Ajax have continued showing interest while Sinkgraven has continued to impress for Heerenveen.
Still only 19, the son of former footballer Harry Sinkgraven is showing the potential to be much better than his father. The attacking midfielder has made Heerenveen fans forget all about Hakim Ziyech, who left for FC Twente last summer. The one quality of this baby-faced Dutchman that stands out mostis his exquisite control of the ball; smooth, magnetic and, even at this stage of his career, already like a seasoned professional.
But Sinkgraven was included in a ‘Moneyball’ team for the first half of the Eredivisienot on the basis of his attacking prowess but his defensive qualities, having made the second-most actions behind Yassin Ayoub.
Praise has been extremely high for Sinkgraven of late. Co Adriaanse called him the new Ziyech but "better in transition and better defensive qualities", Frank de Boer openly serenaded him with an offer from Ajax, and there's been serious interest from both Manchester United and Chelsea.
He still has a long way to go, and based on his qualities it's entirely possible that he could later be converted into a deep-lying playmaker –especially if he moves to Ajax. But for a youngster who considers Andres Iniesta his role model and Barcelona his dream club, he is definitely on the right path to develop.
Though he still needs to add some strength, that will come gradually with a natural physical transformation in his early 20s. Maybe then he will be equipped to become the world beater he already promises to be.
Potential suitors: Ajax (very likely given Sinkgraven says he wants to have an intermediate before a big move, and openly stated his preference for Ajax), Chelsea, Manchester United, Milan, Barcelona.
featureWed, 28 Jan 2015 17:00:00 +0000Joe Brewin332577 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comVlaar and Clasie pull out of Netherlands squadRon Vlaar and Jordy Clasie have withdrawn from Netherlands squad for the upcoming fixtures with Italy and Czech Republic due to injury.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/vlaar-and-clasie-withdraw-netherlands-squad
Guus Hiddink had named the duo in his first squad since returning for a second spell as Netherlands coach following Louis van Gaal's exit.
However, Aston Villa centre-back Vlaar is unavailable due to a calf injury, while Feyenoord midfielder Clasie has a hamstring complaint.
In their place come Celtic centre-back Virgil van Dijk and Paris Saint-Germain full-back Gregory van der Wiel.
Van Dijk's call-up is the first time he has been selected by the national team, while Van der Wiel's last appearance for Netherlands came in a friendly encounter with France in March.
Hiddink now has a 23-man party, with the likes of Arjen Robben, Rafael van der Vaart and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar all available.
Netherlands will face Italy in a friendly in Bari on Thursday, before they begin their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign in theCzech Republic on September 9.
news_articleTue, 02 Sep 2014 09:59:47 +0000Anonymous244069 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comClasie signs Feyenoord extension until 2018Feyenoord captain Jordy Clasie has ended speculation over his future by extending his contract to keep him at De Kuip until 2018.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/clasie-signs-feyenoord-extension
The Netherlands midfielder, who made two appearances for his country in their run to the semi-finals of the World Cup, has been heavily linked with a move away from the Rotterdam club.
Portuguese side Porto are among those thought to have been interested in the 23-year-old, along with Premier League sides Manchester United and Southampton.
Coach Fred Rutten has seen a number of key players head through the exit door in the transfer window, with Graziano Pelle, Stefan de Vrij, Bruno Martins Indi and Daryl Janmaat all departing for pastures new.
But Clasie has decided not to join the exodus and is confident he can continue to develop in the Eredivisie.
"I feel I can improve even more at Feyenoord," Clasie told Feyenoord's official website.
"The club expresses a lot of confidence me while I have a lot of confidence in the future of the club.
"I base this confidence both on the discussions I've had with the club and what I see every day on the field.
"I have a feeling the team can really start growing and I would like to be a part of it."
news_articleFri, 29 Aug 2014 14:19:26 +0000Anonymous241476 at http://www.fourfourtwo.com